CANTON — Canton Central School was evacuated about 10:30 a.m. Thursday because of a bomb scare.

All students and staff were led to sports fields outside the school while village police, state police and St. Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies investigated.

Students were escorted back into the building about noon.

The evacuation was started after High School Principal Mark T. Passamonte received a report from a high school student of a scribbled bomb threat on a stall wall in a girls’ bathroom, according to a news release from Superintendent William A. Gregory.

Village Police Basil W. Cheney said creating a bomb scare is a serious crime.

“We’re investigating it,” Chief Cheney said. “We’re trying to find out who did it.”

Chief Cheney said the word “bomb” was scribbled on a stall wall in the bathroom.

At this point, he said, the department is investigating leads and interviewing students.

State police used two bomb-sniffing dogs to help determine there was no threat.

Some students used cellphones to text their parents, who were not allowed to come onto the school grounds, to tell them about the scare.

Following the search, faculty, staff and students returned to the building and resumed classes.

Village police are continuing the investigation.

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